KAREENA: A Love Story

22. Rose Day Too🌹

Madam Sir Anu Bhaiya se pyar nahi karti hain,' said Karishma.

'Achha? Toh phir kisse pyar karti hain hum bhi toh jaane?' said Pushpa Ji.

'Hum se,' replied Karishma calmly.
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Pindrop silence reigned in Head Constable Pushpa Singh's house following the announcement.

Karishma's face was expressionless; but Pushpa Ji stood frozen in shock, eyes widened, hands covering her open mouth.

A couple of beats passed.

'..... hum se, aapse, Santu-Cheetah se... hum sab se kitna pyar karti hain Madam Sir,' said Karishma in the same steady voice.

Pushpa ji nearly sagged against the wall in relief.

Karishma continued. '... Parivaar maanti hain humein apna. Toh humara farz banta hain Pushpa Ji ki hum unko koi bhi galat insaan ke haathon na padhne de!'

Pushpa Ji briefly closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. Karishma had momentarily scared the daylights out of her. But she regained her vigour after hearing Karishma's patronizing words.

'Madam Sir bacchi nahi hain,' she snapped at Karishma. 'Aur aapki samsya kya hain Karishma Ji? Aap apne bhaiya ko devta maanti hain na? Unke khilaaf ek shabd nahi bardasht hain aapko. Toh phir woh aapko Madam Sir ke liye yogya kyun nahi lagte?'

'Aisa hi ek sawaal na Pushpa Ji, humare bhi mann mein hain,' said Karishma, incensed. 'Kuchh dino pehle tak bhi Anu Bhaiya aapko bilkul achhe nahi lagte they. Shaadi ke baad jab se hum iss ghar mein aaye hain, aapne hamesha Bhaiya ki burayi kii hain. Unko kabhi khaane tak pe nahi bulaya. Hum puchhte toh humein bhi suna deti thi. In fact, yaad karke dekhiye jab Bhaiya pehli baar DSP ban kar humare thaane ayein, tab bhi aapne Madam Sir se unki nindaa hi kii thi. Phir achaanak se kaa ho gaya Pushpa Ji?

'Nahi matlab achaanak se aisa kaa hua ki aapke rawaiye ne pura U-turn maar liya aur aap lagaatar Madam Sir ko Bhaiya ki taraf dhakelti rahi? Ab bhi aap aise behave kar rahi hain jaise Bhaiya duniya ka aakhri bachelor banche huye hain Madam Sir ke liye?'

Pushpa Ji began stuttering and the tips of her ears turned slightly pink due to embarrasment.

'Haan... woh toh aapke parivaar ne reception mein jo hum logo ke saath kiya tha uski wajah se,' defended Pushpa Ji. 'Ek toh aapne humare bechare bhole masoom Lalla ko apne mayajaal mein fansa kar sabse bina bole registry shaadi karwa liya! Kyun? Humne aakhir kar haan kahi thi na aapke liye? Upar se aapke bhaiya ne aapka hi paksh liya! Aapke gharwalon ko bhi patti padha kar chup karaa diya! Phir jaise taise reception ke liye manwaya, tab aapke Anu Bhaiya par hi saari zimmedari thi na ladkewalon ki khaatirdaari karne ki? Aur unhone kya kiya? Humare rehne ka bandobast kiya ek aashram mein! Janha thik thak paani bhi nahi milta tha. Swaagat ke naame par bas ek ek mithai thamaa—'

'Hmm...' Karishma crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows, as Pushpa Ji's rant was only proving her point.

Pushpa ji realised that she was contradicting herself and backtracked. '.... Khair woh jo bhi ho. Anubhav Sir insaan bure nahi hain na. Aur humari Madam Sir achhe achho ko sudhaar deti hain. Anubhav Sir mein bhi jo thode bohot dosh hain, unhe Madam Sir sudhaar dengi...'

Karishma slammed both hands against her head in frustration. 'Pushpa Jiiii... Ek kaaran. Humko bas ek kaaran bataiye ki kaahe kisike bhi dosh sudhaarne ki jimmedari Haseena Madam par hain? Naa matlab unko biwi banna hain ya governess? Aur hum phir se aapko yaad dilana chahenge ki Anubhav Bhaiya duniya ke aakhri insaan nahi hain. Madam Sir ke laayak aapko aur bhi milenge!' Karishma was breathing hard, trying not to shout at her mother's face. 'Waise bhi...,' she hesitated for a moment before plouging through. 'Humne kabhi iss baat ko highlight nahi kiya lekin... Anu Bhaiya 9 saal badhe hain Madam Sir se...'